New rules regarding elephant importation

[JamesJ]

The USFW has made the decision to allow elephant and ivory imports from Zimbabwe, with the ESA permits. The permit will apply to all elephant being imported to the US, not just Zim and Tanzania. It adds another hurdle to the import, but at least you will be able to bring your trophy back. If you have ever thought of taking an elephant, I suggest you don't wait too long. The decision of course was very unpopular with the left and it may not stand for long. Here is a copy of the article from the hunting report, all Credit goes to Barbara Crown and her staff.


USFWS to Implement New Elephant Trophy Import Requirements


On Friday, June 3, the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced that it will restrict elephant hunting trophy imports of ivory to only two per year per hunter and that it will require an Endangered Species Act (ESA) enhancement import permit for all elephant trophies. The new requirements are part of the USFWS’ final rule revising the rule for African elephant under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

In the November 2015 issue of World Conservation Force Bulletin John J. Jackson, III, reported that USFWS had proposed to add these restrictions to elephant imports as part of recommendations arising from the President's Task Force on Wildlife Trafficking. (World Conservation Force Bulletin is delivered to you each month with your issue of The Hunting Report Newsletter.) At that time Conservation Force had submitted comments opposing the proposal.

The new requirements are scheduled to take effect on July 6, one month from today. If you plan to hunt elephant this safari season you will need to acquire an enhancement import permit from the Division of Management Authority of USFWS prior to importation. This is the same process required in the past for Tanzania elephant, but now must be done for elephant from the Republic of South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana (whenever it lifts the current moratorium). Any elephant trophies entering the United States without an import permit will be in violation of the ESA and seized. Remember that USFWS treats all improperly permitted imports as contraband, and you will not be able to get the seized shipment back.

The silver lining in this is that the new requirements provide a way to import elephant trophies from Zimbabwe. If enhancement for a particular trophy can be shown, the trophy could receive an enhancement import permit. Operators in Zimbabwe and their clients are urged to contact Jackson right away for pro-bono assistance. Call 504.837.1233 or send an email to CF@conservationforce.org.

Look for more details on this development in the next issue of Conservation Force Bulletin and The Hunting Report. – Barbara Crown, Editor-in-Chief.

 

[edward]

whats the status on the air lines?

 

[cpr0312]

Thanks for sharing James

 

[JamesJ]

@edward it all depends on which airline.

 

[JamesJ]

Important addtional info on elephant importation

The USFW added some clarification regarding inbound elephant trophies. If you have one in the salt or in process, contact your safari company and your taxidermist immediately. Your trophies need to be in the us prior to July 6 or they risk seizure by USFW.

Thanks again to Barbara Crown at the hunting report.


News Alert – Pending Elephant Imports In Danger of Seizure


Hunters with elephant trophy imports scheduled for delivery to the United States must ensure their imports arrive before July 6 to prevent seizure by US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Hunting Report has learned that those new enhancement import permits we reported on in an Email Extra Bulletin yesterday will be required as of July 6 no matter when you hunted your elephant. Any elephant trophy arriving without an import permit will be at risk of seizure.

In a response to inquiries by John J. Jackson, III, of Conservation Force, Tim Van Norman, Chief of Branch of Permits in the Division of Management Authority for USFWS, states that the revised rule on elephant imports requires an import permit regardless of when the elephant was taken. Also, hunters will be allowed only two elephant imports per year, no matter when you hunted the elephant. So, if you are importing an elephant you hunted two years ago, plus another one from last season, and both are scheduled to arrive in the US in 2016, you will have filled your limit of imports for this year. Any additional elephant you may hunt will not be importable until 2017.

If you have a pending elephant shipment make sure it will arrive before July 6. Otherwise you will need to fill out Form 3-200-19 to request an import permit. According to Van Norman, the application form has already been revised to include all elephants. “ndividuals can start to request permits now if they know that they will not import the trophy until after the effective date,” he says. The new form had not been posted to the USWFS website today when The Hunting Report checked, but hunters can contact the Management Authority for one at managementauthority@fws.gov. – Barbara Crown, Editor-in-Chief.

 

[Royal27]

It will be interesting to see if an ele gets through from Zim.

The article says "could " not "will." IT isn't a bad sign though I don't think and time will tell.

 

[CAustin]

It is amazing how USFW can make rules retroactive!

 

[rookhawk]

I know of some deals on Ele in Zim right now. A couple friends are checking with the attorneys on these rules and if clear, they are rushing to Zim in the next 75 days to snag some super discount elephant hunts before the prices rally.

Right now a Big-3 Safari (Hippo/Buffalo) with a trophy elephant, tips, airfare, 14 days in the bush, all licenses can be had for under $35,000 at this moment. If these rules clear the way for US import from Zim and everyone finds out, 9 months from now the hunts will be $55,000 again.

 

[Royal27]

It is amazing how USFW can make rules retroactive!

What did I miss? What's retroactive?

 

[CAustin]

There is new clarifying info coming out that even if you already took a trophy.....that if it's not back before 6 July you have to apply for the new permit!

 

[LivingTheDream]

It is amazing how USFW can make rules retroactive!

Charlie, does this effect you from your hunt last year?

 

[Hank2211]

What did I miss? What's retroactive?

I think the "new" part - is that the permit system will now apply to all elephants, wherever taken, and, more importantly, whenever taken.

So if you took an elephant last year, before all the fuss, you could still bring it in without a permit because it was taken before the new rules were imposed. Now, if it comes in after July 6, you will need a permit, and if you don't have it, confiscation seems to be the result.

And the timing is interesting. If you hunted elephant twice last year, and both are coming in this year, then you can't bring in any more this year, even if you go on a legal hunt for which a permit would normally be issued.

This sort of reminds me of the fuss there was some time ago about leopard and whether the year of the CITES quota mattered or the year of import. USFWS changed their rules without notice, and it caused all sorts of problems with import. I think they eventually backed down, once CITES passed a new rule (or, more likely, clarified the existing rule) - just for the Americans!

Rest assured, there is no way they want to make the process any easier!

 

[Royal27]

There is new clarifying info coming out that even if you already took a trophy.....that if it's not back before 6 July you have to apply for the new permit!

Oh, got it. All about perspective.

To me they isn't back dating as it applies to the furure import date and really doesn't have anything to do with the hunting date.

 

[CAustin]

Charlie, does this effect you from your hunt last year?

I think so! I already have my ivory and the feet here, but have bone leather and ears yet to ship .
Something told me that there would be an issue like this so I asked Mike at Capricorn to expedite the ivory and he did.
But now I have the rest to come, gun bag, wallets, slings, and leather, ears, bone and I'm worried about it being mixed in with Giraffe and Warthog and Nyala

 

[edward]

It is amazing how USFW can make rules retroactive!

it seems they do as they want,when they want.

 

[Royal27]

I think the "new" part - is that the permit system will now apply to all elephants, wherever taken, and, more importantly, whenever taken.

Yup - got that. Funny thing is I don't really see what it does? Not that any government needs a reason to get someone another form to fill out....

And the timing is interesting. If you hunted elephant twice last year, and both are coming in this year, then you can't bring in any more this year, even if you go on a legal hunt for which a permit would normally be issued.

I'm assuming you could still bring in the next year? Just a curiosity side note - I wonder how many people worldwide try and import three or more elephants into their country of origin each year? This one sounds like more of an eye roll than anything unless I'm missing something.

IF you will be able to use this to import from Zim or other countries that aren't currently allowed (and I still think that is a big if) this additional permit would actually be an improvement, even if more paperwork.

I think so! I already have my ivory and the feet here, but have bone leather and ears yet to ship .
Something told me that there would be an issue like this so I asked Mike at Capricorn to expedite the ivory and he did.
But now I have the rest to come, gun bag, wallets, slings, and leather, ears, bone and I'm worried about it being mixed in with Giraffe and Warthog and Nyala

Charlie, even if this ends up being nothing but one more form to fill out, which I think is likely, I still think you were smart to get the tusks in ASAP. You just never know.....

 

[edward]

BIG RIGHT ON CHARLIE.

 

[JamesJ]

@Royal27 people from other countries can import all they are legally allowed, these rules only apply to hunters importing into the US. Its a step in the right direction for the future of elephant hunting in Zim extra steps are better than a flat denial. It does hamstring other countries.

 

[Royal27]

@Royal27 people from other countries can import all they are legally allowed, these rules only apply to hunters importing into the US. Its a step in the right direction for the future of elephant hunting in Zim extra steps are better than a flat denial. It does hamstring other countries.

Yeah I get it James. I was making a point and wondering out loud how many people the two limit would even impact. I wonder if maybe someone didn't just put the limit in to make the public happy?

Agree it is a start! Now to see it tested.

 

[cpr0312]

time will tell, but sounds like a positive step at least